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Chelsea are resigned to the ‘fact’ that they will be without star midfielder Nemanja Matic when they face Tottenham Hotspur in next Sunday’s Capital One Cup final, according to the Daily Star.
The Serbian international currently faces a three-game ban for violent conduct, having been sent off for pushing Ashley Barnes during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Burnley.
Chelsea look set to appeal the suspension, on the grounds that Matic’s angry response was caused by a dangerous challenge from Barnes, which went unpunished.
The Blues may well get some sympathy from the FA, because Matic was on the receiving end of a horror tackle and, after all, he only pushed the Burnley man, rather than punching him.
However, the Star report that Chelsea know their best possible outcome would be for the FA to reduce the length of Matic’s ban from three games to one, meaning he would still miss Sunday’s Wembley showpiece.
Matic was absent when Chelsea played Spurs at White Hart Lane on New Year’s Day and he was sorely missed, as the Blues lost the midfield battle, as well as the match 5-3.